DeLand shelter no longer taking in animals

Wednesday

Dec 5, 2012 at 6:16 PM

Animal Rescue Konsortium said it will continue to help animals, albeit by placing them in foster homes rather than in its shelter.

ANTHONY DeFEOSTAFF WRITER news

DELAND — Nearly a month after DeLand police seized more than 130 animals from the Animal Rescue Konsortium, the group said it will continue to help animals, albeit by placing them in foster homes rather than in its shelter. The historic home at 441 S. Woodland Blvd. functioned as an animal shelter until Nov. 8, when DeLand police served a search warrant after repeated complaints of overcrowding and animal mistreatment. ARK reached a settlement with the city Nov. 19, releasing the animals to shelters around Central Florida. As part of that agreement, City Attorney Darren Elkind said ARK would no longer be allowed to house animals without requesting a special zoning exception. Maggi Hall, the group's president, disagreed, and the shelter resumed taking in animals. DeLand code enforcement officers visited the facility last week after hearing reports about the group taking in animals. DeLand's chief building officer, Matt Adair, along with a police officer visited the facility Nov. 27. Upon seeing several dogs, Adair informed Hall that the group was not allowed to rescue animals. He returned the next day to follow up, by which time the animals had been adopted. On Nov. 30, Hall said she received three pages of violations from the DeLand Fire Department for problems observed when police executed the search warrant. Hall claims city officials are harassing a group that they relied on for years. "Nothing changed at our shelter for three years as we continued to take in DeLand's animals," said Hall. "Then all at once, something happened and they just went berserk." But City Manager Michael Pleus disagreed, saying the recent inspections were routine. "Somebody told us they were holding animals. We went down there and noticed they had a couple of dogs," said Pleus. "I think Matt (Adair) may have noticed a couple of other animals, and said they'd come back tomorrow and they need to be gone by tomorrow. He came back the next day, and they were gone." The only animals that remained were one of the volunteer's personal pets, he said.